23 Best Food In Ipoh: Coffee Shops, Restaurants & Cafes That Even The Locals Love

Eunis Ong

Last updated 19 Mar 2024

Photo Credits: @astraea_theng, @wee.dailylook, @crappysotong

Best food in Ipoh (famous restaurants & hidden gems!)

Home to the famed Ipoh white coffee, silky tau fu fah, and hearty chicken rice, Ipoh is a proud foodie paradise in Malaysia, with lots of amazing local food, restaurants, and cafes scattered across town. To help you plan your Ipoh food adventure, we've gotten suggestions from some of our Ipoh friends so you know which local-recommended spots to add to your trip checklist! Keep reading to be inspired.

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30 Best Things To Do In Ipoh: Best Local Food, Pretty Cafes & Must-Visit Spots

From a family-friendly theme park to hot springs, local restaurants, and cosy cafes, Ipoh is the perfect road trip destination for people of all ages! Here's our list of best things to eat, see, and do in Ipoh.

Best local food, restaurants & cafes in Ipoh

1. Nam Heong White Coffee Shop

First up, start your day right with some egg tarts and Ipoh white coffee at the rustic Nam Heong White Coffee Shop. This humble kopitiam is one of the pioneers of Ipoh white coffee and is the inspiration behind the now-popular Old Town White Coffee. The coffee here is foamy and has a great balance of sweetness and bitterness - pair it with some egg tarts or kaya and butter toast for some simple goodness!

Address: 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak

2. Thean Chun Coffee Shop 天津茶室

Sample a variety of Ipoh's best local eats at Thean Chun Coffee Shop, an iconic local restaurant located in the heart of Ipoh old town. Dishes to order here include chicken kuey teow soup noodles (also known as Kai See Hor Fun), satay, chee cheong fun (rice noodle rolls), and their signature egg caramel custard (which is apparently so smooth it'll melt in your mouth). It's best to come by with your friends or family so you can order a bit of everything to share!

地址: 73, Jalan Bandar Timah, 31650 Ipoh, Perak

3. Paris Restaurant Hakka Mee

Indulge in a bowl of simple yet delicious hakka mee at Paris Restaurant located along Hugh Low Street - the springy noodles here are topped with minced meat and typically served with a side of yong tau foo. Customize your bowl of yong tau foo by taking your pick from a selection of items such as meatballs, stuffed tofu, and fried beancurd skin! If you're looking for a yummy, affordable meal that even the locals would recommend, here's the spot to be.

Address: 164 -166, Jalan Sultan Iskandar Shah 30000 Ipoh Perak

4. Yee Fatt Curry Noodles

Established in 1955, Kedai Kopi Yee Fatt has served bowls and bowls of delicious curry noodles to the people of Ipoh for over 60 years. We heard that the curry broth here is prepared with a secret blend that consists of 20 different types of spices, which is probably why it tastes so creamy and flavourful. Opt to enjoy your noodles dry or with soup - we personally prefer the dry version whereby your noodles will be drenched with their rich curry sauce and topped with ingredients such as char siew, chicken, potato slices, and bean sprouts.

Address: 39, Jln Kampar, 31650, Ipoh, Perak.

5. Ipoh Tuck Kee Restaurant 德记炒粉专门店

Be prepared for a queue here as Restoran Tuck Kee is a half-a-century old restaurant that is almost always crowded with hungry patrons. The signature dish here is definitely the Yu Kong Hor (also known as Moonlight Hor Fun) which is arguably the best in town and a must-try when in the vicinity. You can also order other bestsellers such as War Tan Hor Fun, braised chicken feet, baby octopus in soy sauce, fried bee hoon, and more to complete your wholesome meal.

Address: 61, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak

6. New Hollywood Canning Garden (halal)

This is the best place to get halal, authentic Chinese food in Ipoh. New Hollywood Canning Garden has been in operation for over 30 years and is known for its Hong Kong chee cheong fun made fresh with juicy prawns or chicken. Other yummy dishes here include wonton noodles, cakoi, and curry mee. Make sure to come by early before the crowd builds up, or be ready to wait in line for a seat!

Address: Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Perak

7. Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong

Sin Yoon Loong is a quaint Hainanese coffee shop established in 1937 and has been serving one of the best, most authentic white coffee in town for years. Pop by for a satisfying local breakfast with coffee, yummy soft-boiled eggs on toast (known by the locals as danzhi), or other local eats such as roti-kiap (toast with sweet jam), wanton mee, and chee cheong fun.

Address: 16, Lintasan Perajurit 17G, Taman Teknologi & Perusahaan Ipoh Garden, 30000 Ipoh

8. Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau

The chicken rice in Ipoh is typically enjoyed with a side of humble taugeh (beansprouts) and you can opt to replace your rice with a bowl of soup kuey teow (flat noodles). As there are many popular chicken rice restaurants located all over Ipoh, it's pretty hard to evaluate which one's the best! Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau is popular even amongst the locals and is almost always packed with hungry patrons. Expect to be served delicious bowls of kuey teow (do note that the restaurant does not serve rice with their chicken), tender chicken, and juicy, crunchy taugeh that even taugeh haters may learn to love!

Other popular bean sprout chicken spots in Ipoh include Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken, Yoon Kee Bean Sprouts Chicken, and Restoran Onn Kee Tauge Ayam.

Address: 44, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 31350 Ipoh, Perak

9. Funny Mountain Tau Fu Fah 奇峰豆腐花

Tau fu fah (soya beancurd pudding) is a must-have dessert when in Ipoh! It is said that the tau fu fah here is made with spring water in Ipoh, giving it its unique taste and texture. Our favourite spot to satisfy our tau fu fah cravings is Funny Mountain, a family-run store that has been serving good old tau fu fah for over 60 years. You can even "drive-thru" to get your tau fu fah and enjoy it in your car!

Address: 50, Jalan Mustapa Al-bakri, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak

10. Woong Kee Bean Curd Bercham Ipoh

Here's another local tau fu fah spot to check out if Funny Mountain is 'too touristy' for you. Unlike the well-established Funny Mountain with its spacious stores, Woong Kee serves silky smooth tau fu fah out of a humble rickshaw parked outside a 7-11 store in Bercham. Nothing beats the satisfaction of slurping down a refreshing bowl of soya goodness by the roadside before continuing on your sightseeing adventure. Besides classic tau fu fah topped with ginger syrup, you can also opt to top yours with other confections such as grass jelly, red beans, ginkgo nuts, glutinous rice balls, black sesame, and more!

Address: 291, Jalan Bercham, Taman Desa Kencana, 31400 Ipoh, Perak

11. Cheong Kee Beef Noodles 基记牛腩粉 @ Tong Sui Kai

Ipoh's Tong Sui Kai is a street that comes to life at night and is lined with food stalls selling all sorts of desserts, snacks, and local hawker eats. One of our favourite stalls here is Cheong Kee Beef Noodles, a family-run humble establishment where you can get a bowl of hearty, delicious beef noodles served in flavourful soup that's been boiled for hours. Be sure to order a side of beef balls to complete your meal!

Address: Stall No 47, Jalan Gereja, 30300, Ipoh, Perak

**12. Kedai Kopi Yong Suan (*halal***)

Nasi Ganja is technically Nasi Kandar, a term coined by the locals because it's so addictive. Start your day with the best nasi ganja in town at Kedai Kopi Yong Suan, a rustic coffee shop that has been in business for over 60 years. Though it gets crowded here sometimes, service is quick and efficient so don't worry too much if you spot a long queue (in fact, most people in line are actually there to bungkus their meal). Enjoy a hearty plate of nasi ganja with ayam merah, salted egg, veggies, and topped with flavourful curries.

Address: 2, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak

13. Hong Kee Mah Chee 芳记麻芝花生糊

Here's a hidden gem you won't want to miss out on, especially if you love muah chee. Tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood, Hong Kee Mah Chee's little blue dessert shop is located under a tree and has been around for over 80 years. They specialize in muah chee (Chinese peanut mochi) and fah sang wu (creamy peanut paste soup), all prepped daily and served warm. You can order both and add the muah chee into your bowl of fah sang wu for elevated flavour and texture!

Address: 550A, Jalan Queen Taman Pasir Pinji, 31650 Ipoh, Perak

14. Restaurant Sun Kim Aik 新锦益点心茶楼

Dim sum is another popular meal in Ipoh! There are many dim sum restaurants in town, the most popular ones being Ming Court Hong Kong Dim Sum, Foh San, and Restoran Chooi Yue. For those who'd like to dine at a restaurant frequented by the locals, check out Sun Kim Aik, a neighbourhood dim sum spot where you can get fresh dim sum favourites without burning a hole in your wallet (prices are affordable and portions are generous here!). Indulge in signature items such as dai bao, sang yuk bao, lo mai gai, egg tarts, and har kau.

Address: Jalan Lahat, Taman Falim, 30100 Ipoh, Negeri Perak

**15. Mee Kari Kak Yah (*halal***)

Restoran Mee Kari Kak Yah is a popular halal breakfast spot in Ipoh, loved for its wide variety of yummy food choices. Whether you're craving for mee kari, bihun sup, cheong fun, nasi lemak, roti bakar, or kuih-muih, you'll find something for you at this humble restaurant. Come here hungry and leave with a satisfied tummy!

Address: Jalan Jelapang Selatan 1, Kampung Tengku Husin Hujong, 30020, Ipoh

16. Kafe Yoon Wah 元华饮食阁雪花啤酒

Did you know that Ipoh is famous for icy snow beers? Popular paired with hearty dinner or supper dishes, snow beers are served in frozen glasses, which is why they taste so refreshing and icy (like smoothies!). One great spot to enjoy a good glass of snow beer is Kafe Yoon Wah, a popular, no-frills Chinese restaurant where you can take your pick from an endless list of dishes available on their menu whether it's seafood, chicken wings, fried rice, or noodles.

Address: 7, Jalan Bijeh Timah, 31650 Ipoh, Negeri Perak

17. Restoran Rasa Lain PLT 味不同海鲜坊

Fans of seafood, you'll be delighted with the list of seafood restaurants scattered all over Ipoh! Restoran Rasa Lain PLT is where you can indulge in delicious glass noodles with crab, a signature dish that will leave you craving for more. Other specialties here include steamed fish balls, steamed lala, special sotong, soy sauce prawns, and more. If you're travelling with family, this one's a great dinner spot to add to your itinerary.

Address: 69, Persiaran Medan Bercham 2, Pusat Bandar Baru Bercham, 31400 Ipoh, Perak

18. Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken 宴琼林盐焗鸡

Known as yim kok kai in the local language, salted chicken is a popular souvenir to be brought back from your Ipoh trip. Marinated in rice wine and a variety of Chinese herbs, there are many shops where you can get delicious salt-baked chicken, most places even offer a freeze-dried version for gifting convenience! One of our favourite salted chicken shops in Ipoh is Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken, where you can purchase chicken nicely packaged in bright red boxes (perfect for gifting).

Address: 24, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak. Malaysia.

19. Kedai Biskut Sin Eng Heong

Don't leave Ipoh without getting some kaya puffs from Sin Eng Heong! Sin Eng Heong is one of the oldest biscuit shops in Ipoh that has been around for 60 years now. Their legendary kaya puffs (fondly known as Kaya Kok by the locals) are sweet, flaky, and baked fresh daily with traditional baking methods. Besides kaya puffs, you can also get your hands on other snacks and pastries such as sesame balls, peanut candy, siew bao, and biscuits filled with pandan paste, bean paste, red beans, and meat floss.

Address: 64, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakry, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak

20. Seong Man Teahouse

Looking for a relaxing spot to enjoy a cup of tea with your friends or family? Seong Man Teahouse is a hidden gem with a vintage, oriental charm and zen vibes. The teahouse specializes not just in tea but also vegetarian dishes. Cool down with humble bites such as steamed red bean cake, chilled bowls of tang yuan, agar jelly, and home-baked cheesecake. They also offer a variety of vegetarian mains such as stews, rice sets, noodles, and more.

Address: 124, Jalan Sultan Iskandar 30000 Ipoh, Perak

21. De Cafe & Rest House

De Cafe & Rest House is sorta a hidden gem in Ipoh - you'll have to walk through an unasssuming narrow alley to get here. All the cakes at the cafe are home-baked with love by the owner and taste as good as they look - we heard they also have weekly specials, so you might be caught by surprise everytime you come here. Space-wise the cafe is brightly-lit, rustic, and spacious, with a collection of different-sized tables, including a huge one that can fit up to eight pax in case you're travelling with a big group.

Address: 35, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, 30000 Ipoh, Perak

22. Platf9rm Coffee Café

Fans of Harry Potter, you'll definitely not want to miss out on this cafe when in Ipoh. Tucked away in Concubine Lane, Platf9rm Coffee Cafe has attracted throngs of fans since its opening, all thanks to its dreamy interior that looks straight out of a Harry Potter movie (our personal favourite photo spot is the Diagon Alley window front!). They even provide props such as wands, broomsticks, and books for you to take photos with. While you're there, be sure to get yourself a glass of butterbeer made with a delicious combination of caramel and butterscotch (0% alcohol, 100% halal!) - perfect for beating the heat.

Address: 22, Lorong Panglima, Concubine Ln, 30000 Ipoh, Negeri Perak

23. Fujiwara Tofa Shop

There aren't many themed cafes in Ipoh, but besides the Harry Potter cafe listed above, Fujiwara Tofa Shop was the second themed cafe that made waves upon its opening. Themed after the famous Japanese street racing manga series Initial-D, Fujiwara Tofa Shop pays homage to tau fu fah, the iconic Chinese dessert that Ipoh is known for. The shop opened its doors in October 2020 in the midst of the pandemic and is definitely worth a visit if you love cars, tau fu fah, the Initial-D series, or all of the above. The tau fu fah at Fujiwara Tofa Shop is made fresh daily and they also sell a variety of other food, snacks, and beverages.

Address: Palo 101 Lot 189-E, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, 30000 Ipoh, Perak

Click here to discover more cosy cafes in Ipoh!

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More Ipoh trip inspiration

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Things To Do Eat & Drink Travel essentials

30 Best Things To Do In Ipoh: Best Local Food, Pretty Cafes & Must-Visit Spots

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